Donald Trump visit LIVE: Exact time President will arrive in Scotland revealed
Flying into Ayrshire on Air Force One, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scotland 's First Minister John Swinney ahead of his state visit to the UK in September - when he is set to met King Charles.
The US president will visit his Scottish golf courses as a tight ring of steel is enforced for his safety. Around 5,000 people from the police and security services will be deployed, while snipers that are part of the safety measures have already been spotted in Scotland.
19:28Benjamin Lynch
Crowds are gathering
Crowds are gathering at Prestwick Airport.
Plane spotters have congregated at a popular aircraft watching spot on a mound close to the airport.
19:22Benjamin Lynch
European Commission president to meet Trump
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Sunday.
Ms von der Leyen made the announcement on X, saying: 'Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.'
Before leaving Washington on Friday for Scotland, the president said there was a '50/50 chance, maybe less than that' of a trade deal being struck with Europe which would avert tariffs due to come into force on August 1.
19:05KEY EVENT
Trump's arrival time as Air Force One nears UK
Trump will arrive at Prestwick Airport in Ayshire between 7:20pm and 8:05pm tonight.
Another no-fly zone is in place from 7:30pm to 8:50pm between the airpoirt and Trump's Turnberry golf course.
18:36Benjamin Lynch
Trump and his golf
Trump will visit both of the golf clubs he owns in the country – Turnberry in South Ayrshire and Menie, near Aberdeen, in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters before he began his travel to Scotland, the US president described his Turnberry golf course as 'the number one course in the world'.
18:29Benjamin Lynch
Snipers spotted on the roof
Snipers have been spotted in Scotland to prepare for the arrival of Trump. They are part of a raft of security measures in place as the US president visits the UK.
17:51Benjamin Lynch
Pressure on Starmer over Palestine as Trump dismisses Macron
In a joint statement released by Berlin, Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz also called for Israel to stop restricting the flow of aid into Gaza.
"We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation," they said, adding that "the most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay".
Macron has said France plans to recognise Palestinian statehood, making his country the first G7 nation to do so. Trump said Macron's statements on the matter did not "carry weight".
"What he says doesn't matter," Trump said to reporters at the White House.
Starmer has resisted domestic pressure to follow in Macron's footsteps. Some 221 MPs from across different political parties have joined forces to call on the Government to recognise a Palestinian state, as has Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday evening that such a move needed to be part of the 'pathway' to peace in the Middle East.
'That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace,' the Prime Minister said.
He added: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis."
16:43Benjamin Lynch
Gaza could be part of the discussions - Swinney
winney said the meeting will be 'an opportunity to 'essentially speak out for Scotland' on international issues such as Gaza, as well as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland.
'There are clearly also significant international issues upon which the people of Scotland have a view and want to have that view expressed by their First Minister,' he said.
'That relates to the awfulness of the situation in Gaza and the unbearable human suffering that is going on in Gaza.
'I want to make sure that those concerns and those views are expressed to the president of the United States.
'We have that opportunity, and I intend to take that opportunity to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard.'
Mr Swinney also urged all of those set to protest against the president's visit to do so 'peacefully and to do so within the law'.
15:33Benjamin Lynch
Trump speaks of getting on wth PM
Trump and Starmer are set to have dinner at the president's Turnberry golf course before visiting Aberdeen, which the American leader called the "oil capital of Europe".
Trump added: 'We're going to have a good time. I think the Prime Minister and I get along very well.'
15:25Benjamin Lynch
Trump and PM could 'approve' US-UK trade deal
Donald Trump has indicated that he and Sir Keir Starmer could 'approve' the US-UK trade deal when they meet in Scotland.
Speaking to reporters before he began his travel on Friday, the president said: 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even approve it.'
15:21Benjamin Lynch
Donald Trump said he is 'looking forward' to Swinney meeting
Donald Trump said he is 'looking forward' to meeting the 'Scottish leader' John Swinney.
Asked about meeting with the First Minister, President Trump said that he has a 'lot of love' for Scotland.
He added: 'The Scottish leader is a good man, so I look forward to meeting him.'
15:09Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Pictured: Trump boarding Air Force One
The US President has left Washington and is on his was to Scotland on a 'personal' visit where he will go to his golf course and meet the Prime Minister.
Trump is expcted to land in the UK in around six hours but he faces more heat about his alleged relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which he has continued to deny.
15:03Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Trump claims he does not know what the alleged letter he wrote to Epstein is about
Trump told reporters outside the White House that he never went to Epstein Island.
It was officially named Little Saint James, but locals referred to the sprawling 75-acre estate as 'Paedophile Island'.
Trump continued to deny any connection with Epstein, despite bombshell pictures from Trump's 1993 wedding which appear to show the notorious paedophile there. When asked about an alleged letter the President supposedly wrote from Epstein's birthday, he shut those claims down.
Trump today said: "I don't even know what they're talking about. Now, somebody could have written a letter and used my name but that's happened a lot. All you have to do is take a look at the dossier, the fake dossier, everything is fake with that administration [The Democrats]... they're a bunch of sick people."
14:55KEY EVENT
'I have nothing to do with the guy,' Trump cries
Trump again denied having any relationship to paedophile Jeffrey Epstien as he flees the US for Scotland for four days.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House he said: "People should rerally focus on how well the country is doing, or they should focus on that fact that barack hussein obama led a coup."
He listed other people he claims might have connections to the disgraved financier and said "They dont talk about them they talk about me, I have nothing to do with the guy."
14:45Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Video: Trump boarding Air Force One before jetting off to Scotland
14:44KEY EVENT
10 wild Donald Trump moments as he jets to Scotland and away from Epstein row
Anyone who has studied, or even half watched a movie about American politics understands one simple rule.
It's not the crime that gets you, it's the cover up. The multiple mentions of Donald Trump's name in the Epstein files don't insinuate any guilt or knowledge of Epstein's crimes. They may be entirely innocent, or hearsay.
But last week, when he was asked if his name was in the files, Trump unequivocally said "no." That was a lie. And whatever is in the files, those around him have gone to extreme lengths to prevent their release, and to encourage the American people and media to talk about something - ANYTHING - else.
All of which amounts to a determined effort by the White House and senior government figures to cover up the details of Trump's relationship with America's most notorious and prolific paedophile and sex trafficker.
And it may be nothing, but whatever it is or is not - they'd apparently rather drag out the row in public for weeks on end than reveal what's in the files. And in the middle of all this, Trump is on his way to Scotland for his first UK visit since returning to the White House. He'll be hoping for a bit of peace and quiet after the last few weeks....but we expect some protesters will have other ideas.
1. Trump tried to do a Zelensky on the Fed chairman and it didn't quite land
2. Even Trump's most loyal backers are starting to talk about impeachment
3. Trump is still insisting it's a "SCAM"
4. He's apparently seen the South Park episode, and is "seething" about it
5. Epstein really didn't want to talk about Trump during his deposition
Read about Trump's five other wild moments here.
14:41Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Trump to meet Keir Starmer
The US President is coming to the UK on a "personal visit" but he is still due to get politics involved.
Trump is due to touch down in Scotland on Friday evening ahead of a four-day visit, during which he will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney.
His meeting with Sir Keir is seen as a chance to refine the UK-US trade deal which came into force last month.
In a carefully worded statement ahead of the visit, Mr Swinney said the focus it will bring to Scotland will allow people to have their voice heard on issues including 'war and peace, justice and democracy'.
Speaking to the PA news agency on Friday, the First Minister said his meeting with Mr Trump would present an opportunity to 'essentially speak out for Scotland' on issues like trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland.
14:32Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Trump on a 'personal visit'
Mr Trump is expected to visit both of his golf clubs in Scotland – in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire – during the visit, which has been described as 'private' by the White House, before leaving on Tuesday.
His presence is likely to spark protests across the country, with Police Scotland being forced to request aid from other forces to help increase manpower for the trip.
The massive security blitz comes ahead of a state visit in September which is expected to bring chaos to Britain's streets. Marches are set to take place in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen over the weekend.
14:24Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Police guard ring of steel around Trump's golf course, ahead of President's visit to Scotland
A huge steel fortress has been put up in the tiny Ayrshire village of Turnberry, in Scotland, ahead of Trump's visit.
A 10ft wall, complete with a watch tower, has been erected around the Trump Turnberry golf course. The course has also been filled with police and 'no fly zone' signs have also been spotted around the President's Scottish course and hotel.
14:15Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Chancellor says Trump visit is in the 'public interest'
The visit of US President Donald Trump to Scotland is in the 'public interest', Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.
Mr Trump is due to touch down in Scotland on Friday evening ahead of a four-day visit, during which he will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney. His meeting with Sir Keir is seen as a chance to refine the UK-US trade deal which came into force last month.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the Rolls-Royce factory near Glasgow Airport on Friday morning, the Chancellor talked up the importance of the visit.
'It's in Britain's national interest to have strong relations with the US administration and as a result of both that long-term special relationship, but actually more importantly, the work that our Prime Minister Keir Starmer has done in building that relationship with President Trump has meant that we were the first country in the world to secure a trade deal,' she said.
'That has a tangible benefit for people here in Scotland, whether it is people working in the Scotch whisky industry or people working in the defence sector like here at Rolls-Royce, that trade deal means lower tariffs than any country in the world on things that we send to the US.'
14:13Elizabeta Ranxburgaj
Pictured: Trump leaving Washington for Scotland
Donald Trump met people on the South Lawn of the White House before he headed on the president's helicopter Marine One to start his journey to Scotland.
14:02Christopher Bucktin
Trump's 'birthday card to Epstein circulated by Maxwell' West Wing fears
Donald Trump's White House is said to fear that allies of Ghislaine Maxwell were behind the leak of claims he'd sent a handwritten birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein.
Senior West Wing officials are said to believe that claims about the card were orchestrated as a 'warning shot' by the convicted teen sex trafficker to warn the president of what she knows.
It has led his team to fear she could divulge far more information about his ties to Epstein if she does not receive a deal. Trump denied knowledge of any card or message and is suing the Wall Street Journal which published a story on it.
Days after the Journal published is claims, Trump's Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was dispatched to Tallahassee to speak to Maxwell. Sources close to the White House believe the British socialite, who is serving a 20-year prison term for grooming girls for the late paedophile, wants to be set free. The president, who was close friends with Epstein for more than two decades, has the power to commute her sentence or pardon her.
Addressing the card claims, a senior White House source told the Mirror: 'There's no doubt in some of the minds of the West Wing that the leak came from someone in Maxwell's orbit and it wasn't accidental.
"They believe it was a calculated move, a message to the President that she hasn't forgotten what she knows, and that she's willing to start talking if she's backed into a corner. Trump knows what kind of access Maxwell had to both him and Epstein."
Read the full strory here.
10:50David Burke
Security ready for Trump's visit
A huge operation is underway in Turnberry in Ayrshire ahead of the controversial US President's visit.
A 10ft metal barrier has been put up, sparking complaints that the usually-quiet area now looks like an "American prison".
Huge protests are expected over the weekend as Mr Trump touches down in the UK on a personal visit.
Sniper teams and road checkpoints are visible in the usually-quiet rural setting north of the border.
09:28Mikey Smith
Epstein files could lead to impeachment
Donald Trump will be hoping for a few days of peace in Scotland this weekend - while back home his backers have started to talk about whether the Epstein files could lead to his downfall.
Privately, even some of the President's most loyal supporters in Washington are privately discussing the possibility that the revelations to come could lead to him being impeached for a third time.
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